Old Junky Cheyenne Super Shop Truck

[1956cameo]

About 3 years ago I bought out an entire 67-72 collection. There was only one complete (mostly) truck, but about a dozen truckloads of parts. Besides the countless bins of parts I got one extremely solid cab and two short wheelbase frames. One of which was completely restored and even had a rebuilt 350 engine and 700r4 transmission. I also got 2 or 3 truckloads of sheetmetal. After going through everything I realized that I had everything that I needed except the cab to make a patina Cheyenne Super in the light green and white. Fortunately for me I saw a Cheyenne cab in the right color combination on craigslist last September for $400. I immediately called the dude and made the deal. My plan is to make the truck look like an all original and unrestored Cheyenne Super when in reality it will be a truck completely made out of spare parts from numerous trucks. I plan on making it my swap meet and parts running truck. I'm trying to cut costs by using as many parts from my inventory as possible and only buying what is needed for safety and dependability.


So here's what I started with. A craigslist 1971 Cheyenne cab with title for $400. Overall a very solid cab. The only rust is along the inner roof panel above the windshield and the rockers. Sorry for the sideways pics. The early pictures are before I knew that you have to hold the camera sideways for the pics to look right on the forum.

[1956cameo]

So I guess I dont know how to post comments in between each picture. So my cab started life as a 1971 2 wheel drive long bed. A previous owner put it on a 4wd frame and cut the floorboard out for clearance.

Life was good on the way home until the Ford that I was borrowing decided to break down on me in the middle of nowhere! So my $400 cab turned into a $1,400 cab after my $1,000 tow bill from BFE Texas back to south Houston.

[1956cameo]

So after getting the Ford to the mechanic my dad showed up in the first truck that was built from my parts that I acquired of the collection I bought out. It's just a base model longbed C/10, but it is very rust free and a great work truck. Oddly enough they were both orginally that light mint green. So the cab was taken from the mechanics shop to his house in the 71 C/10. I couldn't afford any more tow Bill's!

[1956cameo]

Once everything was home I put running gear on the bare short bed frame that I got.

[1956cameo]

Once the suspension was bolted to the frame the cab settled into it's new home. What started life as a longbed 2wd and was converted into a longbed 4wd will now live life as a short bed 2wd. Since I am trying to keep it looking like an unrestored truck I am only fixing the rocker panels and the hole they cut in the floor when it lived as a 4wd. My son is just starting to learn about metal work and was very excited that I let him remove the rockers.

[1956cameo]

Putting a little front sheet metal put on.

[1956cameo]

Wow. I am not doing as good of a job taking the pictures the right way for the forum as I thought! Once again sorry for all of the sideways pictures. Fingers crossed that they aren't sideways from here on out.

So I got the bed thrown on along with the rest of the other sheetmetal. Its starting to look like something now. I had to use the blue fender well in the bed because the second green one was trashed. I think most people who see it would never guess that the bed panels are from one truck, the cab from a second truck, the doors and front sheet metal from a third, and the frame from a fourth!

[lolife99]

Love it.
Can you bolt in a factory high hump trans cover vs welding in the low jump floor?

[1956cameo]

I took the rebuilt engine and transmission that I got when I bought the 67-72 collection from 3 years ago and put it into the 71 Cheyenne. Since this truck is being made from as many of my spare parts as possible my build cost should be around $4,000 or less for the whole project. So far I'm in it for $760 NOT counting my tow bill from the Ford. Either way it's been a fun project so far getting to see so much progress so fast and not having to worry about making sure everything looks perfect and new.

[1956cameo]

Hey lolife99, I probably could have. I have the parts to do that, but I already welded in a new low hump floor pan, I just dont have pictures of it yet. They actually did a pretty decent job of cutting it out. From the craigslist pictures I actually thought that it was a factory 4wd cab until I saw it in person.

[1956cameo]

Just a couple of pictures of both 71 Chevys being made from the parts that I got in the buyout of that collection. I probably have enough parts to make around 3 or 4 more trucks, although my other projects are planned to be actual restorations. This will be the only "slapped together" truck. One truck that wasn't part of the collection buyout, but will benefit from its parts supply is my oldest son's dark green 70 C/10 longbed. I keep trying to convince him we should make it a short bed, but he says longbeds are more useful and he wants to preserve its history.

[1956cameo]

Not too many visible changes, but its slowly getting all new brakes and fuel system. Waiting to buy a radiator before I can fire it up. So far in it for $1,150. Still on track to have it on the road for $4,000 or less.

[Getter-Done]

I don't know how I missed this thread.
I am tuned in.
Great progress
I like it.








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[1956cameo]

Thanks Getter-Done. I will post more progress pictures soon. Thinking of buffing her paint out the next weekend.

[Stickman]

Really like these just get them on the road threads, can't wait.

[1956cameo]

Stickman, I used to think an old vehicle needed to be fixed up to perfect shape. After watching shows like Roadkill and Dirt Everyday I have found that you just need to get them on the road and enjoy them! Plus beat up cars get more attention than restored cars do most of the time.

[67C10Step]

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

Stickman, I used to think an old vehicle needed to be fixed up to perfect shape. After watching shows like Roadkill and Dirt Everyday I have found that you just need to get them on the road and enjoy them! Plus beat up cars get more attention than restored cars do most of the time.

This is my "short term" plan. I want something I can enjoy and not worry about every little scratch or ding. Would I love a $40,000 nice ride? Who wouldn't? But doing most of the work myself and on a budget is my plan. I can always blow it apart for a full blown something later on if I desire.

Great work, watching this one now.

[1956cameo]

67C10Step, Thank You. I completely agree with you. From this point forward I am planning on having a beater to enjoy now while I do my next restoration. When that restoration is done the beater will be my next project and I will quickly make a new beater to drive around. I figure I can do this until my collection is completely restored.

[68Gold/white]

56,
Your plan is a sound one. Taking a vehicle completely apart and not being able to drive it, has bitten me, a couple of times. Thre's many different ways to tackle a "build"
I have 2 classic pickups, a 67 and a 68. Both LWB's. I have no desire for a short bed...

I have been collecting 67/68 parts here, and there. I've bought body panels, some good, some not, all for fair prices. I plan to get my 67 going, this year. I plan to install all the worst body panels on it, have the good ones in the garage to do body work on, when able. It's much easier to work on a fender or even a bedside, by itself, than have the whole vehicle in the garage. THis also allows work the BEST quality of body work!!! The 67 will have a 283/TH350 in it, initially, then a SBC 400/TH400!!! (kinda keeping the build theme the same on the engine/trans also...LOL
Many could benefit from doing things, in this manner.

[IronCanine]

Late to another party. This looks like a fun one.

[1956cameo]

68 Gold/White, I hear you. My first restoration ever is still disassembled 25 years after tearing it apart. It was a 1947 Dodge sedan. A full restoration was just bigger than I could handle, and now that I can handle it my taste in old cars has changed.

Iron Canine, At first it didn't appear that there was much interest in this build, but since at least a few people have expressed interest in watching a low budget build i will take more pictures and make more posts going forward.

[68Gold/white]

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

68 Gold/White, I hear you. My first restoration ever is still disassembled 25 years after tearing it apart. It was a 1947 Dodge sedan. A full restoration was just bigger than I could handle, and now that I can handle it my taste in old cars has changed.

Iron Canine, At first it didn't appear that there was much interest in this build, but since at least a few people have expressed interest in watching a low budget build i will take more pictures and make more posts going forward.

A low budget build is something many need to see, here. It could help many beginner enthusiasts get a project off the ground, in a sound manner, financially and time wise.

[IronCanine]

Always more pictures! Never enough. This just looks like it's gonna be cool.

[1956cameo]

68 Gold/White, I agree. I remember watching the low buck Jimmy build thread on here about 10 years ago. It is still one of my favorite builds. One of the roadkill guys said it best " Driveable junk is better than rotting junk".

IronCanine, Here are a few more pictures for you. Sorry for the delay, I thought I posted them already. Its not much of an update, but I polished out the paint. It gave me something to do while I save up a little money.

[1956cameo]

Saving up money for the project, so i buffed the paint out to give me something to do.